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Sciatic nerve pain can make walking, sitting, or even sleeping comfortably a challenge. You may have heard that some cases of sciatica pain resolve on their own. But in other instances, leaving it untreated could pose certain risks and even increase the severity of your symptoms.
Visiting a chiropractor early helps you address your pain naturally and potentially avoid further complications. Learn the pitfalls of ignoring your sciatic and what treatments you should prioritize instead.
The sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the body that runs from the lower back down each leg. When a herniated or bulging disc compresses this nerve, you may experience sciatica.
Sciatica symptoms often include:
These symptoms are often mild at first, but they can worsen over time. Waiting too long to seek a diagnosis may mean that more intensive treatment is needed to correct the problem.
Sciatica pain typically means that something is compressing the sciatic nerve. The most common causes are herniated and bulging discs, which may be due to age-related degeneration, repetitive stress, or sudden injuries.
In some cases, herniated and bulging discs heal on their own. But they often require chiropractic care, physical therapy, or modifications to daily activities to fully resolve.
What happens if sciatica is left untreated? You run the risk of the nerve pain worsening and the underlying condition becoming more severe. A few specific risks include the following.
Cauda equina syndrome is one of the major herniated disc complications to be aware of. It’s a medical emergency that happens when the nerve roots at the bottom of the spinal cord are compressed, leading to bladder and bowel dysfunction, severe lower back pain, numbness in the inner thighs and buttocks, and sexual dysfunction.
Emergency surgical decompression surgery is usually required to relieve nerve pressure and prevent permanent paralysis. People with a massive lower disc herniation are more likely to develop cauda equina syndrome, which is why prompt treatment for herniated discs is often a good idea.
While some cases of sciatica resolve on their own, many require interventions to lessen pressure on the nerves. Leaving this condition untreated could lead to long-term or even permanent nerve damage.
Ongoing pinching of the nerve can cause the fibers to degenerate, leading to chronic lower back pain or numbness that may not resolve even after the compression is treated. Your nervous system could also become hypersensitized with ongoing nerve pain, meaning that your sciatic nerve continues to fire pain signals after you have treated the compression.
Early intervention increases the likelihood that your herniation can be resolved with non-invasive treatments. But if sciatica is left untreated for an extended period, the herniation and nerve compression can worsen. You may eventually require surgery to remove the source of the pressure. This would involve removing the herniated portion of the disc or the entire disc, depending on the severity of the condition.
While surgery is often an effective treatment method, it comes with risks like nerve injury, infection, and blood clots. It’s often best to avoid surgical interventions where possible.
Treating sciatica pain does not always mean an invasive surgery or painful procedure. Many people experiencing nerve pain find relief through non-invasive chiropractic treatments.
A chiropractor can perform spinal adjustments to reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve and alleviate pain. They can also use soft tissue therapy to reduce spasms in the lower back and hips. Relieving pain is an important step in helping the herniation or bulging disc heal on its own, as pain often leads patients to develop maladaptive movement patterns that may place more pressure on the nerve.
Chiropractors develop personalized treatments depending on each patient’s condition and symptoms. Starting treatment now could give you the best chance of avoiding further complications.
What happens if sciatica is left untreated? With prompt chiropractic treatment, you may be able to avoid the progression of untreated sciatica symptoms and streamline your healing process. Chiropractors have the training and experience to help with back pain through non-invasive treatment approaches.
If you’re ready to schedule chiropractic care in Fort Lauderdale, call ChiroCare of Florida today at 754-223-8855 to book an appointment.
